OUTLOOK: The Southland Conference will be more competitive than ever this
season as the returning members try to give an unfriendly welcome to a
powerful newcomer.

Oral Roberts joins the SLC as one of the top mid-major programs in the NCAA.
The Golden Eagles became instant favorites to win the league upon their
arrival. It won't come without a fight though, as there are plenty of
competitors ready to spoil ORU's first tour of the league.

Stephen F. Austin, SE Louisiana, and defending conference champion Lamar will
not go away quietly. Danny Kaspar has transformed Stephen F. Austin into a
stingy defensive unit and has added pieces to address the lack of offensive
punch. SE Louisiana will be much tougher as it gets its superstar shooting
guard back for one more season. Pat Knight lost some important components from
his NCAA Tournament team, but Lamar was not expected to win the conference
either.

The middle of the pack is filled with upside as Nicholls, McNeese State, and
Sam Houston State are all on the fringe of being competitive with the top
tier. J.P. Piper's Colonels is expected to make a huge leap after finishing
last season on a roll. The Cowboys were just a game away from winning the
2012 conference tournament. Jason Hooten's Bearkats have a group of promising
newcomers that will make an immediate splash.

The bottom of the conference does not feature any teams that will be a
cakewalk during the conference season. Corliss Williamson's Central Arkansas
team is the deepest in the league. Northwestern State has a senior leader as a
floor general to follow. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is not eligible for the
postseason, which makes the Southland Conference regular season championship
its only goal.

ORAL ROBERTS - There is a new powerhouse in the Southland Conference as Scott
Sutton and his Eagles step into the league. Sutton, who is a 17-year veteran,
led Oral Roberts to a Summit League regular-season title and set school
records for wins (27) and conference wins (17) before being upset in the
conference tourney's semifinals. Although the Eagles lost some crucial players
from that squad, including the Summit League Player of the Year, Dominique
Morrison (19.8 ppg), they still have a deep and talented rotation. Senior
guard Warren Niles will take on a greater role after finishing second on the
team in scoring (12.1 ppg) and assists, earning an honorable mention All-
Summit accolade. Juco transfer Tramel White and redshirt freshman D.J. Jackson
are expected to share the point guard responsibilities alongside Niles in the
backcourt. The Eagles should be able to dominate the opposition inside with
the forward trio of Damen Bell-Holter (6-9, 245), Steven Roundtree (6-8, 190),
and Shawn Glover (6-7, 195). Bell-Holter (7.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg) is the only other
returning starter. Roundtree (9.8 ppg) was last season's Summit League Sixth
Man of the Year and Glover brings big-time experience after playing 31 games
at Utah in 2010-2011. Despite having to replace its MVP and its new setting,
Oral Roberts is the clear favorite to win the Southland.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN - Since Danny Kaspar took over as the Lumberjacks' head
coach 12 seasons ago, SFA has the second-best winning percentage (.617) among
schools from Lone Star State, trailing only Texas (.723). Kaspar added his
fourth 20-win season in the past five years by coaching the team to a 15-5
record after Christmas. The Lumberjacks found their success by limiting
opponents to just 54.4 ppg. SFA will turn to first-team all-conference
selection Antonio Bostic (11.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg) to be the leader on the
floor. Desmond Haymon (8.2 ppg) and Hal Bateman (4.0 ppg) will both see time
in the backcourt. Although SFA will have to replace center Jereal Scott's 12.4
ppg, senior forward Taylor Smith showed he could lead the team in scoring by
posting 9.2 points on 70.1 percent shooting from the floor and 6.3 boards per
game off the bench last season. Bostic and Smith give SFA a great chance of
competing with the conference's new favorite for the top spot.

SE LOUISIANA - The Lions struggled after the leader of their pack went down
with a broken toe. Once Brandon Fortenberry (17.6 ppg) was sidelined, coach
Jim Yarbrough's team managed just a 12-17 overall record and a 5-11 mark in
league play, which was not enough to make the playoffs. The good news for SE
Louisiana is that Fortenberry was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and
will be back to pace the squad. His ability to score in multiple fashions and
his tenacious approach on the defensive end of the floor may earn him the
Southland Player of the Year award. Juco transfer Dre Evans (5-9, 170) is
likely to start at point guard alongside Fortenberry. Evans played his
freshman season at Providence before his junior college stint. Fortenberry is
not the only Lion with scoring ability. Senior forward Roosevelt Johnson (11.9
ppg, 7.9 rpg) showed he can be just as deadly by averaging a double-double of
17.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest in the team's last seven games. The
6-8, 225-pound Jan Petrovcic will bring his scrappy style of play back for his
senior season. Jamaal James (6-8, 250) is the top forward option off the
bench.

LAMAR - Pat Knight reminded many of his father after he verbally ripped into
his team after a late season loss to Stephen F. Austin in February. The
Cardinals responded by winning six in a row to win the Southland Conference
Tournament and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000.
Although Knight faced some obstacles while coaching the team to 23 wins in his
inaugural season at the helm of the program, he will be challenged even more
as Lamar tries to replace four starters, three of which had double-digit
scoring averages. Senior forward Stan Brown (4.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is the lone
returner to the starting lineup. Osa Ebomwonyi (6-11, 220) is a valuable
defensive presence and could see his offensive numbers skyrocket as he is
forced to be more assertive. Senior Nikko Acosta (6-9, 220) should be more
settled after making 10 starts as a junior college transfer in his first
season at Lamar. Donley Minor is the best ball handler returning, but freshmen
Keilan Blanks (5-10, 170) and Donnell Minton (5-11, 170) are going to
continuously compete for minutes. Lamar needs to be a strong defensive team
once again due to its lack of proven scorers.

NICHOLLS - J.P. Piper has plenty of reason to be optimistic after last
season's injury plagued 10-20 finish. Piper lost his starting shooting guard
Ben Martin to a career-ending injury, while Dantrell Thomas, Lachlan Prest,
and Chris Talkington all missed time. This season, Nicholls has a deadly trio
in its backcourt consisting of Thomas (11.7 ppg), Trevon Lewis (12.6 ppg), and
the 2009 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, Fred Hunter. Hunter sat
out in 2011-2012 with a medical redshirt, but his return gives Piper a
dangerous weapon in the backcourt. Sam McBeath (8.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Talkington
(8.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg), and Prest (6-7, 209) form a decent rotation of forwards.
The Colonels have made it to a school-record four straight Southland
Tournaments. They should be able to make it five in a row and could even
compete for the crown if they improve on the defensive end of the floor.

MCNEESE STATE - The Cowboys came up just one game short of the Big Dance last
season as they were edged out by Lamar in the SLC Tournament finals. Coach
Dave Simmons will be anxious to get his team back to the conference
championship game, but it will be much more difficult without the Southland
Conference Player of the Year, Patrick Richard. The backcourt tandem of Dontae
Cannon (11.9 ppg) and Jeremie Mitchell (10.8 ppg) is still arguably the best
in the league. Cannon is a very crafty point guard and earned honorable
mention all-conference selection. Mitchell is a three-point threat and netted
2.2 shots from long range per game. Junior Adrian Fields is the best wing on
the squad. His offensive abilities are apparent, but his inconsistent
defensive effort limited his playing time. McNeese State also has a pair of
talented forwards in Craig McFerrin (6-7, 230) and Desharick Guidry (6-5,
200). McFerrin is the best low-post scorer on the team, while Guidry is a
tenacious defender and rebounder.

SAM HOUSTON STATE - The Bearkats were a very capable team offensively in Jason
Hooten's second year at the helm of the program. However, the team is going to
have to work even harder to achieve that success after its top two leading
scorers transferred. Sam Houston will not drop off too far with Marquette
transfer Erik Williams (6-7, 215) making his Southland debut. Williams should
get a lot of open looks from beyond the arc with DeMarcus Gatliin (10.4 ppg),
the son of former NBA All-Star guard Alvin Robertson drawing help defenders.
Senior point guard Darius Gaton (6.7 ppg, 4.5 apg) is likely to lead the
conference in assists after finishing second last season. Sophomore center
Michael Holyfield (6-11, 255) could take on a greater role after posting four
points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a rookie. Hooten is excited about incoming
junior college transfer Will Bond (6-3, 190), who will help address the team's
obvious need for outside shooting. Although Sam Houston has a talent at guard
and on the wing, it will have a challenge in the paint with Holyfield being
the only experienced big man on the roster.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS - Corliss Williamson was almost always the most physical and
tenacious players on the court throughout his Arkansas and NBA career. Now
entering his third season as head coach of Central Arkansas with a 13-45
career record, Williamson needs to inject that tenacity into his team. The
Bears' turnaround will start with junior guard LaQuentin Miles (14.9 ppg, 5.0
rpg). After transferring to UCA from Southeast Missouri State, Miles was named
to the all-conference third team. Ryan Williams (4.2 ppg, 2.0 apg), Oliver
Wells (3.2 ppg), and Lenell Brown (1.4 ppg) will all compete for minutes in
the backcourt with top newcomer, DeShone McClure. The juco transfer from
Navarro College is an active defender and slasher on the other end. Freshman
Zach Padgett could see minutes due to his pure shooting ability. The Bears'
guards will likely grow to appreciate the man in the middle, Anthony Borden
(6-10, 240). While the senior center only played 13.5 minutes per game, he
finished seventh in the league in blocks. Borden is academically ineligible
for the first semester, which will put more pressure on Jarvis Garner (6-7,
220). The senior power forward averaged 10.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game
and began showing improvement down the stretch last season.

NORTHWESTERN STATE - Mike McConathy's teams always seem to balance out. In his
13 years at the school he has compiled a 200-204 overall record. Last season,
his squad went 9-9 before encountering a five-game winning streak. Then the
Demons lost seven of their last nine to finish at an even 16-16. Northwestern
State lost second and third leading scorers, William Mosley and Louis Ellis,
but returns lefty point guard Shamir Davis (13.3 ppg, 3.1 apg). With the
departures of Mosley and Ellis, Davis is expected to play more like a combo
guard and look for his own shot even more. That is possible with redshirt
freshman Jalan West (5-10, 175) set to make his debut. West was heavily
recruited after he led Bossier High School to the Louisiana State Championship
in 2011. Three-point threat Gary Roberson (6.2 ppg) should get plenty of open
looks with Davis and West commanding the defense's attention. Inside, 6-6
forward Patrick Robinson and 6-8 James Hublin are going to be the Demons' best
options. Robinson is a high-energy guy that has all the intangibles. Hublin
(8.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) could be the real difference-maker by providing a
consistent low-post threat. Gary Stewart is one of the top role players off
the bench. Junior college transfers Brison White (6-1, 185) and DeQuan Hicks
(6-7, 230) will both make an immediate impact. Austin and Dustin Adams are
6-7, 205-pound twin freshmen who will provide depth at forward.

TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI: The Islanders had a transitional year in 2011-2012
as long time Rice head coach Willis Wilson made his debut with the program.
Wilson's team played tough and took many of their opponents to the wire, but
they finished just 6-24 overall. TAMU-CC has no choice but to focus on
rebuilding this season as it is barred from all postseason tournaments due to
a low Academic Progress Rate score. Wilson's team lost his top two offensive
threats as Terence Jones (UAB) and Myro Dempsey (Paul Quinn College) elected
to transfer after the NCAA's ruling. The Islanders will still be competitive
with future all-conference point guard Johnathan Jordan (6.5 ppg, 4.6 apg)
running the show. Jordan led the Southland and set the school-record for
assists (138) as a freshman. Fellow sophomore guards Hameed Ali (4.3 ppg) and
Jake Kocher (3.2 ppg) will play alongside Jordan in the backcourt. Ali made
game-winning shots against Utah State and Sam Houston State to give TAMU-CC
two of its six victories. Kocher is one of the better perimeter defenders on
the team. Nate Maxey has great size (6-11, 215) and uses it well to block
shots and anchor the defense, but his inconsistency on the offensive end kept
his minutes limited as a freshman. Junior transfers Joy Williamson (6-5, 210)
and William Nelson (6-6, 215) can provide versatility and athleticism as
forwards. The Islanders have a deep group of talented underclassmen. Solid
growth and development this season could make TAMU-CC a contender down the
road.